AFP

Climate: A Valuable New Tool Lets You See Where the Sea Will Rise

When Hurricane Irene neared New York at the end of August, the city took the unprecedented step of shutting down the entire transit system—buses, subways and commuter trains in the largest city in America. The danger was that heavy rains from Irene could cause flooding that would swamp tunnels and tracks, causing lasting damage to [...]

Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey/photo by Lori Oberhofer, National Park Service

Invaders: How Burmese Pythons Are Devouring the Everglades

Burmese pythons are eating machines. An adult snake can grow to nearly 20 ft., and it can eat everything from raccoons to bobcats to deer to alligators, killing its prey by constriction and then swallowing them whole. On the jungle food chain, Burmese pythons rest near the top. Burmese pythons are also — as the [...]

Hurricane Irene Bears Down on the U.S., Likely Adding to a Brutal Disaster Toll

Come on, Irene — it’s hurricane season. Hurricane Irene, which slashed across Puerto Rico earlier this week and just missed the Dominican Republic, is headed for the southeastern U.S. Irene is expected to strengthen to Category 3 and could become a Category 4 storm, with at least 131-m.p.h. winds as it approaches the southeastern U.S. [...]

Oil Spill: Kenneth Feinberg Makes the Final Rules for Spill Settlements. But Are They Fair?

There are people who have tougher jobs in the world, like sergeants in Afghanistan or maybe the coach of the 76ers. But Kenneth Feinberg doesn’t have it easy. The Boston-bred lawyer took over the Gulf oil spill claims process in late August, and since then he’s managed to be criticized by nearly everyone in the [...]